Pierre Sévigny
Encyclopedia
Joseph Pierre Albert Sévigny, PC
, OC
, CD
, VM
, ED
(September 12, 1917 – March 20, 2004) was a Canadian
soldier, author, politician
, and academic. He is best known for his involvement in the Munsinger Affair
.
Born in Quebec City
, Quebec
, the son of Albert Sévigny
, the Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
in 1916, he graduated from Université Laval
and Columbia University
. He briefly attempted to pursue a career in acting, even being given a screen test
by MGM in 1935, but instead returned to Canada to work in real estate, construction and in the import-export business. He also wrote fiction for The Saturday Evening Post
under the pen name Peter Maple.
Sévigny served in the Canadian Army during World War II
, and lost a leg in the Battle of the Rhine. He was awarded the Virtuti Militari
, Poland
's highest military decoration, for his involvement in the battle at Hill 262
. Along with his Polish comrades of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, he denied access to Panzer
divisions trying to break out of the Falaise pocket
in August 1944. The action resulted in the encirclement and capture of 50,000 German troops. He also received France
's Croix de Guerre
and Belgium
's Croix de Guerre. After the war he wrote a book Face à l’ennemi about his experiences. It won the Prix Ferrières de l’Académie française in 1948. In 1965, he wrote his second book, This Game of Politics (McClelland and Stewart).
He was elected to the House of Commons in the 1958 election
, representing the electoral district
of Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher
, and served as Associate Defence Minister
in the Progressive Conservative
government of John Diefenbaker
. He was reelected in the 1962 election
, but was defeated in the 1963 vote
.
At the height of the Cold War
between the Americans and Russians, and acting on information provided by American sources, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP) warned Justice Minister Davie Fulton
that Gerda Munsinger
, an alleged prostitute and a possible spy
, was having a sexual relationship with a cabinet minister. This was eventually revealed to be Sévigny, when investigators realized that a mysterious thumping sound on their surveillance tapes was an artificial limb dropping to the floor.
A Royal Commission
, chaired by Justice Wishart Spence
, was called by the government of Lester Pearson into the Munsinger Affair
. The inquiry chastised Sévigny for his behavior and criticized Diefenbaker for leniency towards his Ministers, but absolved Sévigny of any guilt relating to any breach of security.
In 1967, he started teaching business administration at Concordia University, eventually becoming executive-in-residence in 1982. He retired in 1995, but returned two years later as a visiting assistant professor. In 1978, Sévigny and Camil Samson
founded the short-lived political party Les Démocrates
in Quebec.
Sévigny was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
in 1994.
He died in Montreal
in 2004.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, OC
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
, VM
Virtuti Militari
The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
, ED
Canadian Efficiency Decoration
The Canadian Efficiency Decoration was a Canadian military award given to officers of the non-permanent active militia, RCAF Auxiliary and Reserve who completed twenty years of meritorious military service. Similar Efficiency Decorations were also awarded by other Commonwealth countries. A bar...
(September 12, 1917 – March 20, 2004) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
soldier, author, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and academic. He is best known for his involvement in the Munsinger Affair
Munsinger Affair
The Munsinger Affair was Canada's first national political sex scandal. It focused on Gerda Munsinger, an alleged East German prostitute and Soviet spy living in Ottawa who had slept with a number of cabinet ministers in John Diefenbaker's government....
.
Born in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, the son of Albert Sévigny
Albert Sévigny
Albert Sévigny, PC was a Canadian politician.Sévigny opened a law practice in Quebec City in 1905. Two years later, he was a candidate for the Quebec Conservative Party in a provincial by-election, but was defeated. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1911 federal election...
, the Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Parliament of Canada and is elected at the beginning of each new parliament by fellow Members of Parliament...
in 1916, he graduated from Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He briefly attempted to pursue a career in acting, even being given a screen test
Screen test
A screen test is a method of determining the suitability of an actor or actress for performing on film and/or in a particular role. The performer is generally given a scene, or selected lines and actions, and instructed to perform in front of a camera to see if they are suitable...
by MGM in 1935, but instead returned to Canada to work in real estate, construction and in the import-export business. He also wrote fiction for The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
under the pen name Peter Maple.
Sévigny served in the Canadian Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and lost a leg in the Battle of the Rhine. He was awarded the Virtuti Militari
Virtuti Militari
The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
's highest military decoration, for his involvement in the battle at Hill 262
Hill 262
Hill 262, or the Mont Ormel ridge , is an area of high ground above the village of Coudehard in Normandy that was the location of a bloody engagement in the final stages of the Normandy Campaign during the Second World War. By late summer 1944, the bulk of two German armies had become surrounded by...
. Along with his Polish comrades of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, he denied access to Panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
divisions trying to break out of the Falaise pocket
Falaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
in August 1944. The action resulted in the encirclement and capture of 50,000 German troops. He also received France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
's Croix de Guerre. After the war he wrote a book Face à l’ennemi about his experiences. It won the Prix Ferrières de l’Académie française in 1948. In 1965, he wrote his second book, This Game of Politics (McClelland and Stewart).
He was elected to the House of Commons in the 1958 election
Canadian federal election, 1958
The Canadian federal election of 1958 was the 24th general election in Canada's history. It was held to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 24th Parliament of Canada on March 31, 1958, just nine months after the 23rd election...
, representing the electoral district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher
Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher
Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004...
, and served as Associate Defence Minister
Associate Minister of National Defence (Canada)
The Associate Minister of National Defence is a member of the Canadian cabinet responsible for various files within the defence department as assigned by the Prime Minister or Defence Minister....
in the Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
government of John Diefenbaker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
. He was reelected in the 1962 election
Canadian federal election, 1962
The Canadian federal election of 1962 was held on June 18, 1962 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 25th Parliament of Canada...
, but was defeated in the 1963 vote
Canadian federal election, 1963
The Canadian federal election of 1963 was held on April 8 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 26th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of the minority Progressive Conservative government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.-Overview:During the Tories' last year in...
.
At the height of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
between the Americans and Russians, and acting on information provided by American sources, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
(RCMP) warned Justice Minister Davie Fulton
Davie Fulton
Edmund Davie Fulton, PC, OC, QC was a Canadian Rhodes Scholar, politician and judge. Popularly known as E. Davie Fulton. He was born in Kamloops, British Columbia, the son of politician/lawyer Frederick John Fulton and Winnifred M. Davie, daughter of A.E.B. Davie...
that Gerda Munsinger
Gerda Munsinger
Gerda Munsinger was an East German prostitute and alleged Soviet spy who was the centre of the Munsinger Affair political scandal in Canada....
, an alleged prostitute and a possible spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
, was having a sexual relationship with a cabinet minister. This was eventually revealed to be Sévigny, when investigators realized that a mysterious thumping sound on their surveillance tapes was an artificial limb dropping to the floor.
A Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
, chaired by Justice Wishart Spence
Wishart Spence
Wishart Flett Spence, was a Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.Born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of James Houston Spence and Margaret Hackland, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Toronto in 1925. He received his Bachelor of Law degree from...
, was called by the government of Lester Pearson into the Munsinger Affair
Munsinger Affair
The Munsinger Affair was Canada's first national political sex scandal. It focused on Gerda Munsinger, an alleged East German prostitute and Soviet spy living in Ottawa who had slept with a number of cabinet ministers in John Diefenbaker's government....
. The inquiry chastised Sévigny for his behavior and criticized Diefenbaker for leniency towards his Ministers, but absolved Sévigny of any guilt relating to any breach of security.
In 1967, he started teaching business administration at Concordia University, eventually becoming executive-in-residence in 1982. He retired in 1995, but returned two years later as a visiting assistant professor. In 1978, Sévigny and Camil Samson
Camil Samson
Camil Samson was a politician in Quebec, Canada, Member of the National Assembly of Quebec , and leader of the Ralliement créditiste du Québec and other political parties.-Background:...
founded the short-lived political party Les Démocrates
Les Démocrates
Les Démocrates was a provincial political party in Quebec, Canada, founded by former Ralliement créditiste du Québec leader Camil Samson and former Progressive Conservative Party of Canada federal cabinet minister Pierre Sévigny on November 18, 1978...
in Quebec.
Sévigny was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1994.
He died in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 2004.